Merton Bowman

Born on Dec. 25, 1948 in Meshoppen, PA, he was the son of the late Maynard (Sept. 12, 1998) and Minnie (Hawley) Bowman (Sept. 20, 2005) of Laceyville, where he was raised his whole childhood.

He attended Wyalusing Valley High School and was a graduate of the class of 1966.

Mert married his wife of 45 years, Karen (Severcool) Bowman on Oct. 21, 1967 and raised his family in Laceyville. Mert, or “Magoo” as he was well known, drove truck for more than 30 years of his life. He drove across the United States in his younger years for various companies, and then picked up milk at local farms for 15 years. He recently retired from Meshoppen Stone, Inc. where he drove truck and operated large machinery. Even after his retirement, Mert continued to work part-time until he became ill. He mentioned often during his battle how he looked forward to going back to work.

On the cross country trips that he and his wife, Karen made driving as a team, Mert had been in every state in a truck except North Dakota, Alaska and Hawaii. In 2010, he took a trip with his family and visited Alaska on a cruise and then drove back across the country visiting “Bowman,” North Dakota. Someday, a part of Mert will go to Hawaii with his family, as that was the only state he had never visited.

He enjoyed many recreational activities over the years, including building and racing stock cars with his father and brother, and later other family members. He also enjoyed racing lawnmowers. He was a general “Jack of all trades” and most recently he found great enjoyment in golfing with his family and never had to “buy the ice cream” for losing.

Survivors include his wife, Karen (Severcool) Bowman; daughters, Melissa and Tony Latini of Wyalusing and Jamie and Rob Heft, Jr. of Montrose; five grandsons, Dustin Latini and his wife, Heidi Latini, Vincent Latini and his fiancée, Tiffany Belcher, Jacob Latini, all of Wyalusing; Robert Heft, III, and James Heft of Montrose; a great-granddaughter, Morgan Latini of Wyalusing; a sister, Mary Lee Goodwin of Mehoopany; a sister-in-law, Virginia Bowman of Meshoppen, many other brother- and sisters-in-laws, nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Maynard “Sam” Bowman (Jan. 22, 2012).

There will be a memorial service held on Saturday, Feb. 16 at noon from the Sheldon Funeral Home, Main St., Laceyville, with Rev. Dale Russell of the Spring Hill United Methodist Church officiating. Family and friends may call at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make memorial donations may do so in Mert’s name to the Wyalusing Relay for Life (American Cancer Society), c/o PS Bank - Amy Huffman, PO Box 217, Wyalusing, PA 18853.